The recent United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming the year commencing on 12 August 2010-2011 as the International Year of Youth. The official slogan for the International Year of Youth (IYY) is: Our Year. Our Voice. In an effort to harness the energy, imagination and initiative of the world’s youth in overcoming the challenges facing humankind, from enhancing peace to boosting economic development. International Year of Youth aims to encourage dialogue and understanding across generations and promote the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and coming together for solidarity. Commission on Youth of NCCI also takes this year as a unique occasion to celebrate ecumenical youth solidarity, to understand the opportunities and challenges faced by youth in their respective Churches, to commit all youth together for meaningful engagement in mission.

The challenge of this international year is to recognize the concerns of the youth of Church and make it broad-based involving the issues of youth, women, and children. Ecumenical Movements and Churches today must understand that youth is a state of life and mind where there is quality of thinking, pre-dominance of courage and appetite for adventure. This adventuring nature and courage made them pioneers of Ecumenical movements. The organizations like World Alliance of Young Men's Christian Associations, the World Young Women's Christian Association, the World Student Christian Federation that gave leadership for the formation and ecumenical movements in different parts of the world.

Further, more the ecumenical movements have always seen the potential of leading the Churches towards unity and fellowship in the youth force. Despite these facts, on a closer examination of the present scenario it is shocking to reveal that youth participation is been trimmed down or got reduced in the activities of ecumenical movement and Church life. In this context the declaration from the United Nations to commemorate this year as International Year of Youth becomes more relevant, where we affirm and work united for youth renewal and transformation in building a holistic community where youth, women and children have equal space and voice in the society.

We can

• Increase recognition of youth development as a smart investment in the Ecumenical movements  and Churches
• Promote understanding of inequalities amongst youth and how to effectively address the needs of the most disadvantaged in Society and Church
• Foster research and knowledge building on youth to better inform youth policies and programmes
• Supporting youth-led organizations and initiatives to enhance their contribution to church and society
• Institutionalizing mechanisms in Churches and Ecumenical organization for wider youth participation in decision-making processes
• Strengthening networks and partnerships among Churches, youth-led organization and civil society organizations for a holistic youth development

Youth must

• Team up Gather support from Churches, Ecumenical Movements, Governmental organizations and Academic institutions, to ensure youth leadership and wider participation.
• Organize Hold forums, public discussions, seminars and information campaigns in support of young people focusing   on youth issues and concerns.
• Convene Exchanges and dialogues focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of young people.
• Celebrate Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase and celebrate the fact that youth contribute and they are the change makers to the societies in which they live.
• Take Action A major focus should be practical action to further encourage the empowerment and participation of youth.

In the International Year of Youth let’s plan and organize various activities discussed above for promoting younger leadership and active participation in Churches, Ecumenical Movements and Civil Society. More details of the International year could be availed from the www.nccindia.in website. The stickers of IYY have been printed and circulated widely for maximum publicity and promotion of the IYY, for more copies of sticker’s, information of IYY, organization of activities and kindly write/contact us.

In Friendship,

Fr.Vineeth Koshy                                                                   
Executive Secretary-Commission on Youth                     
National Council of Churches in India                                                     
Christian Council Campus
Civil Lines, Nagpur – 440 001
Maharashtra, India
Ph.0712-2531312
(M) 9764001712
Email: vineethkoshy (at) gmail (dot) com
Web: www.nccindia.in